Articles tagged with: HIV pride

Alex Sparrowhawk on HIV stigma "We want society to treat us with the same respect given to people without the virus. This means we need to live as we wish to be seen. Unashamed and unapologetic."

Today I mark a day in my life that I will remember forever, it is eight years since I received my HIV diagnosis. I am a very different person to the 24 year old who sat in the clinic side room on that sunny November morning wondering how badly I had messed up my life.
Over eight years I have experienced the full spectrum of human emotions, especially in the times I found myself alone in silence. I am lucky that I have received support and found confidence to channel my anger and frustration,

Dave R: We’re everywhere; 30 years old and unique. In your cities and your small towns. We’re neighbours, doctors, community leaders, bosses and workers. We’ve permeated every level of society.

Sometimes I look at the gay lemmings springing joyfully off the social acceptance cliff, clutching their wedding bouquets in one hand and new spouses (hate that word!) in the other and I can’t help but think…well I’m speechless actually.
Why are we doing it? Why do we want equal billing on everything from prime time TV shows, to Olympic podiums? Why do we feel the need to prove that we’re as good as the straights in reality TV dog-eat-dog competitions and why do we desperately need th